LITTLE SILVER, NJ –Work to replace Monmouth County’s bridge on Seven Bridges Road over Little Silver Creek has been delayed as a result of Super storm Sandy. The bridge and road are expected to reopen in mid-April.

“Following the storm, our contractor evaluated the situation at the bridge and reassessed the schedule,” County Engineer Joseph Ettore said. “However, after resuming work and upon reaching the point in the schedule where the foundation piles for the bridge abutments were to be installed, the electric to the bridge had to be de-energized.”

JCP&L was not able to perform the necessary de-energization because its work crews were committed to the on-going Hurricane Sandy recovery effort. JCP&L returned to the bridge project on Dec. 7 and de-energized the overhead power lines so that the contractor could safely resume work and complete the installation of the foundation piles.

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The County has worked with the contractor to accelerate the construction activities and develop a recovery schedule with the earliest possible road reopening date,” said Freeholder Director Thomas A. Arnone. “The contractor has been asked to work weekends as part of the revised schedule. We are working to get the bridge reopened to traffic by mid-April.”

To replace the 60 year old bridge and reconstruct the bulkhead on both sides of the bridge, Seven Bridges Road has been closed to all vehicular traffic. A pedestrian bridge has been provided over the creek with access to and from the adjacent Point Road School.

Motorists have been using signed detours that direct all motor vehicle traffic on Seven Bridges Road, between Rumson Road and Little Silver Point Road.

Specifically, northbound traffic on Seven Bridges Road will detour west on Silverside Avenue to Branch Avenue and then travel north on Branch Avenue to Rumson Road. Conversely, southbound traffic should follow Rumson Road west to Branch Avenue and then travel south to Silverside Avenue. A map of the detour is posted on the county Web site at www.visitmonmouth.com

Temporary traffic signals on Branch Avenue at the intersections with Rumson Road and White Road/Winfield Avenue were installed to assist with the traffic redirected by the detour.

“The structurally-deficient dual span timber bridge on Seven Bridges Road is being replaced with a new pre-cast concrete deck on a reinforced concrete abutment,” Ettore said. “The new structure will meet current vehicular highway load requirements and eliminate the current weight restrictions on the bridge.”

“I can assure you that we are doing everything reasonable to work with the contractor to reopen Seven Bridges Road at the earliest possible date,” Ettore said. “We apologize for the delay in reopening this important roadway in Little Silver and ask for the residents understanding as we continue to recover from the unprecedented storm.”

The project began in July and was expected to be completed in late January.